The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-28

the start"
"Oh, yes, any one can learn that
trade" retortcd Jerry, n little bitterly,
SO much so he strove to disguise the tone
with feeble whistle.
"By no means, returned Mrs. Altman,
quickly. "Master blachsmiths are rare.
TO shoe horse well is in itself an art.
WHY not begin with the determination
of Becoming an artist i'll ironl You
inherit your fathers talents. Don't be
ashamed of them. Remember, my son,
you need not, if you will not, remain
chained to the forge for life"
jerry spran9 to his feet with shining
face and tossed his hat across the room.
Good bless You for saying that mother !
If / am man enough to make the chain
1 can cut the links when L want to, can't
l. Hurrah hlirrah Gadford forever.
Blakcton WAS small village nesting
among the hills in the southern part OF
Ohio.
Among the many institutions Of this
village, which gave it name and fame
throughout the county, was long, low,
rambling structure, black with the smoke
of fifty Years. Here the fires i'll two
FORCES were constantly ablaze, and the
merry music of hammer and anvil could
be heart ut all seasons OF the year, re-
gardlcss alike of wind and weather.
The presiding spirit of this establish
ment was an eccentric, middlc-aged
man, with a tongue ever waSging over
the small gossip Of the neighborhOod,
which he bencyolcntly dispensed to the
group of oilers who seldom failed to
give him more or less of an audience.
This fact being recognized. some I'M
known party had dubbed the shop
"Gadford's Harbor" name it had
held and honcred for many years.
II was cold, frosty morning i'll Nov
ember. Mr.. GaIford had begun work.
For wonder. he was alone. A circum-
stance so unusual apparently had Its Ell
feet, for he dropped his hammer and
went to the door.
jerry this morning." he muttered, as
he filed his pipe and squintcd MP and
down the long street. First day he's
been off time since he started in.
Somethins up or down with him, sar.in
l never seen boy so bent on gittin' at
trade in my lie. but he's tryin' to
move with 1t leetle fast for beginner.
Some saws conceity folks is the kind
what wins. wonder if they dol L
never thought nothin' of myself
nothin' mt all: and look at me now L
don't think there's horse in the state
cant shoe to the notch, nor any work
IL IRON amt up to. Solid worth Is
what takes the lead, hut stuckupitive-
ness, never! guess I'll have to drop
this prentice of mine peg or two. All
l hope is they won't be no broken
bones." and he turned to his forge with
chuckle.
Considerably out of breath, Jerry At
man bounded into the shop, tossed off
his coat, and was into his leathern apron
in jiffy.
Couldn't help it, Mr.. Gadford.
/ Mothers sick. Ny aunt is there now,
sir, and l guess I'll he OH time after
this" as hc took shovclful of Goals
from his masters force ~ light his own.
"NO excuse needed in case like
this" replied the blacksmith, slowly.
"No fault to find with you on that score,
/ jerry"
''Any fault to find anywhere, sirl'
qucried his apprentice, the roar from
The bellows almost drowning his voice.
"Not genelly, not 'ticlerly, boy; but
still might say, in n fathcrly kind of a
way, that you're gittin' just a little too
! smart fer cub"
.Too smart for cub'-what DO you
moan, SIR" cried our hero with n flush.
cd face.
"Wha. Go 7 mean? ?" replied his mas
ter. with loud laugh-''why, jist what
I've said, Of course. What have been
doing these thirty years. Tendin' to
my trade, haventI2 When worked
IA prentice l acted like one. You
don't, you see. Who ever heerd of g